Compsenation device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for eliminating the differences in the curvatures of a facing lens blank and an abrasive pad mounted on a formable lap includes a drivable track portion, a compensation plate disposed on the drivable track portion, and a compensation member removably disposed on the compensation plate. The compensation member is removable from the compensation plate by a carriage supporting the lens blank and is disposable between the lens blank and the formable lap. The method for compensating for the differences in curvatures of the formable lap and the lens blank includes inserting the compensation material onto the formable lap, softening the formable lap, placing the lens blank over the compensation material to cause the formable lap to conform to a shape of the lens blank, allowing the formable lap to cure, removing the lens blank, and removing the compensation material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/244,702 filed Oct. 31, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates to the manufacture of a lens, and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for substantially eliminating differences in the curvatures of the facing surfaces of a lens blank and an abrasive pad mounted on a formable lap employed in a lens finishing operation.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The manufacture of a lens involves the generation of a lens blank and the fining and polishing of the lens blank with an abrasive pad mounted to a lap. The fining and polishing of the lens blank is effectuated by the positioning and manipulation of an abrasive pad disposed on the lap and between the surfaces of the lens blank and the lap to alter the shape of the material of the lens blank, thereby producing a lens of the desired optical properties. The thickness of the abrasive member may be substantial relative to the amount of material that is removed from the lens blank to arrive at the finished lens. This thickness is accounted for by shaping the surfaces of the lens blank and the lap so that the surfaces of the lens blank and the lap are not complementary. To accurately fine and polish the lens blanks, apparatuses of the related art require a multitude of various laps in which each lap is of a curvature that is different than the curvature of the blank. Oftentimes, thousands of different laps need to be kept on hand in order to effectively produce a lens of the desired optical properties.

[0004] With the advent of a lap that is formable to the curvature of different lens blanks, the number of various laps that need to be kept is significantly reduced; producing a lap that matches the curvature of the desired lens blank is achieved by softening the lap with heat, pressing the curved surface of the blank onto the softened lap, and allowing the deformed lap to cool, thereby hardening and matching the curvature of the blank. In using a blank and a lap generated by such a procedure, the introduction of the abrasive member between the blank and the lap causes the curvature of the combination of the lap and the abrasive pad to be different from the lens blank, which can result in the optical properties of the finished lens being slightly irregular relative to that which is desired.

SUMMARY

[0005] A device and method for eliminating the differences in the curvatures of a facing lens blank and an abrasive pad mounted on a formable lap during a lens finishing operation is disclosed herein. The device inserts a piece of material that corresponds to the thickness of a fining and polishing pad between the lens blank and the lap before the lap is deformed to enable the curvature of the deformed lap and abrasive pad to be complementary to the proper curvature of the lens blank during the finishing operation. Once the lap is deformed such that the desired curvature is obtained, the compensation material is removed, and the lap receives the proper fining and polishing pad, thereby allowing the lens blank to be more accurately finished. The device includes a drivable track portion, a compensation plate disposed on the drivable track portion, and a compensation member removably disposed on the compensation plate. The compensation member is removable from the compensation plate by a carriage before being disposed between the lens blank and the lap.

[0006] In a first embodiment, the compensation member comprises a piece of material having a plurality of rings disposed at the edges thereof. The rings are engagable by a corresponding number of members disposed on the compensation plate to retain the compensation member on the compensation plate. The carriage includes a plurality of pickups depending therefrom, each being configured and positioned to receive each of the rings in successive motions articulated by the carriage.

[0007] In a second embodiment, the compensation member comprises an inner ring, a piece of material draped over the inner ring such that edges of the material extend at least over the edges of the inner ring, and an outer ring disposed over the edges of the material and around the inner ring to frictionally retain the piece of material between the inner ring and the outer ring. The outer ring includes at least one magnet disposed thereon, and the carriage includes a corresponding number of magnets positioned to correspond with the magnets of the outer ring. Engagement of the magnets on the outer ring with the magnets on the carriage effectuates the transfer of the compensation member to the carriage.

[0008] The method includes inserting the compensation material onto the formable lap, softening the formable lap, placing the lens blank over the compensation material to cause the formable lap to conform to a shape of the lens blank, allowing the formable lap to cure, removing the lens blank, and removing the compensation material.

[0009] The above-mentioned device and method promote the efficient manufacture of lenses of varying prescriptions without the need for maintaining a large inventory of laps of varying curvatures. Furthermore, by compensating for the differences between a lens blank and its corresponding lap that are introduced by the abrasive member, the accuracy of each lens produced is greatly increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compensation device of a lens finishing apparatus.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lens finishing apparatus.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a compensation plate of a compensation device.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spool member.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a compensation member having rings attached thereto.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a spool pickup.

[0016]FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a compensation member.

[0017]FIG. 7B is an exploded perspective view of an outer ring of the compensation member of the second embodiment and a compensation plate.

[0018]FIG. 8 is a plan view of a carriage of a lens finishing apparatus.

[0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a compensation device incorporating the second embodiment of the compensation member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a compensation device for use with a lens finishing apparatus (shown below with reference to FIG. 2) is shown generally at 10. Compensation device 10 comprises a compensation plate, shown generally at 12, attached to a track portion, shown generally at 14, a drive motor 16 that drives track portion 14, and a compensation member, shown generally at 18, removably connected to compensation plate 12. Compensation device 10 inserts compensation member 18 between a lens blank and a formable lap 20 of the lens finishing apparatus. Compensation member 18 is dimensioned to compensate for the distance between the lens blank and lap 20 by being dimensioned so as to correspond to the thickness of an abrasive pad (not shown) used to fine and polish the lens blank. Once compensation member 18 is inserted between the lens blank and lap 20, compensation member 18 is removed from compensation plate 12 by a carriage (shown below with reference to FIG. 2) on the lens finishing apparatus. The carriage is then manipulated such that compensation member 18 is placed over lap 20, lap 20 is deformed so as to cause the contact surface of lap 20 to correspond with the curvature of the lens blank when the later applied abrasive pad is positioned between the lens blank and lap 20, and the deformed lap 20 is cured to produce a finished lap of a curvature that is, when combined with an abrasive pad, proper for the lens blank. Removal of compensation member 18 from lap 20 once the lap forming procedure is concluded comprises reversing the order of the foregoing operations.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, a lens finishing apparatus is shown generally at 22. Lens finishing apparatus 22 is an apparatus for performing work operations on a surface of a lens. Such an apparatus is taught in issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,360, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Lens finishing apparatus 22 comprises a frame 26, a plurality of struts 28 connected at the first ends thereof to frame 26, and a carriage, shown generally at 24, connected to the second ends of strut members 28. Carriage 24 is configured and dimensioned to support the lens blank (not shown) and to receive the compensation member from the compensation device, which is positioned proximate lens finishing apparatus 22 such that when track portion 14 extends, the compensation plate positions the compensation member for pick up by carriage 24. An operation wherein the compensation member is removed from the compensation plate and retained on carriage 24 for placement over lap 20 is described below.

[0022] In FIG. 3, one embodiment of compensation plate 12 is shown in greater detail. Compensation plate 12 comprises a plurality of arms 30 radiating outward from a central portion 32. Each arm 30 is positioned to be in the same plane as each other arm 30. In a preferred embodiment, compensation plate 12 includes three arms 30, although a compensation plate incorporating more than three arms may be used. Spool members 34 (described in detail below with reference to FIG. 4) are disposed in holes 36 on the end portions of each arm 30. In one embodiment, a spacer 33 is disposed within central portion 32 and extends from the surface of compensation plate 12 to provide support for the compensation member disposed on compensation plate 12. Support of the compensation member, which may be coated with a liquid lubricant, prevents the compensation member from adhering to the surface of compensation plate 12 when the compensation member is disposed thereon. Compensation plate 12 may be fabricated from a variety of different materials including, but not limited to, aluminum. The material need only have sufficient durability in the lens fining environment to be acceptable.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, the spool member, which is shown generally at 34, comprises a cylindrically shaped body portion 38 and a pin 40 depending from one end thereof. Body portion 38 is generally of a smaller cross section at a point intermediate the ends thereof to accommodate rings (shown below with reference to FIG. 5) disposed at the edges of the compensation member and to retain the rings upon application of a force in directions lateral to the axis of the cylindrically shaped body portion 38. Pin 40 is dimensioned and configured to be received in the hole in the end portion of the arm of the compensation plate.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 5, compensation member 18 comprises a piece of material 42 and a plurality of rings 44 disposed on the edges of material 42. Material 42 may be a piece of elastic material such as LYCRA (trademark), although other materials having the appropriate thickness and being capable of withstanding the heat associated with the process of forming the lap and the other environmental factors extant in the fining apparatus can be used. Rings 44 may be glued, sewn, or otherwise attached to the edges of material 42 in a configuration that corresponds with the arrangement of the arms of the compensation plate. Rings 44 are sized to accommodate the spool members and to allow for the transfer of rings 44 between the spool members of the compensation plate and the spool pickups of the carriage to effectuate the transfer of compensation member 18 from the compensation device to the lens finishing apparatus.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 6, a spool pickup is shown generally at 46. Spool pickup 46 is similar in configuration and dimension to the spool member of the compensation plate. In particular, spool pickup 46 comprises a cylindrically shaped body portion 48 having a smaller cross section intermediate the ends of body portion 48. One end of body portion 48, however, includes a hole 50 disposed therein that extends longitudinally for some length along body portion 48. Hole 50 is configured and dimensioned to receive a pin (not shown) depending from the carriage, which provides a means for connecting spool pickup 46 to the carriage.

[0026] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, compensation plate 12 is mounted to track portion 14 of compensation device 10. In a preferred embodiment, an operator (not shown) fits the rings of compensation member 18 over the spool members of compensation plate 12 such that compensation member 18 is stretched relatively tightly across compensation plate 12. Drive motor 16 is then actuated and causes track portion 14 having compensation plate 12 attached thereto to extend into lens finishing apparatus 22 such that compression plate 12 is between carriage 24 and lap 20. To transfer compensation member 18 from compensation plate 12 to carriage 24, apparatus 22 is manipulated such that an edge of carriage 24 at which a spool pickup is positioned is “dipped” in the direction of a first ring of compensation member 18 such that the spool pickup on carriage 24 extends into the ring. Carriage 24 is then rotated in an outward direction relative to the central portion of compensation plate 12, thereby causing the spool pickup to pull the ring away from the spool member on compensation plate 12. Carriage 24 is further manipulated such that the edge of carriage 24 that was originally dipped is returned to its “pre-dipped” position, thereby causing the first ring to be retained on the spool pickup on carriage 24 while the second and third rings on compensation member 18 remain retained on the spool members on compensation plate 12. In successive movements similar to that of the movement described above, the second and third rings are transferred to their respective spool pickups on carriage 24, thereby causing compensation member 18 to be completely retained on carriage 24. Upon completion of the transfer of compensation member 18 from compensation plate 12 to carriage 24, compensation plate 12 is removed from lens finishing apparatus 22 by retracting track portion 14 therefrom.

[0027] Another embodiment of the compensation member and the compensation plate on which it is mountable is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. In FIG. 7A, a compensation member, shown generally at 56, comprises an inner ring 58 and an outer ring 60 which together are similar to what is commercially known as an embroidery hoop. Inner ring 58 is a continuous member having a substantially uniform cross section and being configured such that the edges of a piece of composition material (not shown) positioned over inner ring 58 can drape over the edges of inner ring 58. Outer ring 60 includes an opening 62 formed therein and is fabricated of a material such that outer ring 60 is flexible. The flexibility of outer ring 60 enables outer ring 60 to be fitted around inner ring 58 when the compensation material is placed on inner ring 58, thereby causing the compensation material to be retained between inner ring 58 and outer ring 60. Upon fitting outer ring 60 around the compensation material and inner ring 58, outer ring 60 can be tightened. The tightening of outer ring 60 may be effectuated by the insertion of a fastener 64 extending through a protrusion 66 on one end of outer ring 60 to a protrusion 68 on a second end of outer ring 60. Other means of tightening outer ring 60 may also be employed, such as a clasp (not shown) or a spring or other type of elastic member (not shown). The compensation material for this embodiment need not be elastic but can be any flexible textile type material having the appropriate thickness (defined by thickness of abrasive pad to be used) and the ability to withstand the lens machine environment including heat and lap forming.

[0028] Outer ring 60 further includes magnets 70 disposed therein and alignment pins (shown below with reference to FIG. 7B) disposed thereon. Magnets 70 are positioned on or in protrusions 68 that radiate outward from outer ring 60, although, if space allows, they may be positioned directly on or in outer ring 60 itself. Preferably, three magnets 70 are incorporated into the structure of outer ring 60 and are mounted in protrusions 68 that are spaced at equidistant points about the circumference of outer ring 60.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 7B, alignment pins 71 are shown depending from outer ring 60. Alignment pins 71 depend from the surfaces of protrusions 68 opposing the surfaces in which the magnets are disposed. Alignment pins 71 are configured and dimensioned to be received in holes 73 in a compensation plate, shown generally at 75, configured to support a compensation member incorporating an inner ring and outer ring 60 between which a piece of compensation material is held taught. Compensation plate 75, which may optionally include a spacer 81 to support the compensation material, thereby preventing its adherence to compensation plate 75, is attached to the track portion that extends into the lens finishing apparatus to deliver the compensation member to the carriage of the lens finishing apparatus. The positioning of alignment pins 71 effectuates the removal of the compensation member from the carriage, as is described below with reference to FIG. 9.

[0030] If compensation member 56 is employed, a carriage, shown generally at 72 in FIG. 8, is the carriage for use in the lens finishing apparatus. Carriage 72, which is similar in construction to carriage 24 as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a ring member 74 having a plurality of brackets 76 depending therefrom at points equidistant from each other. Brackets 76 are configured to house bearings 77 in similarly facing surfaces thereof. Bearings 77 enable carriage 72 to communicate with the apparatus and to respond to the movements of the struts (shown above with reference to FIG. 2). Magnets 78 are disposed on or within the similarly facing surfaces of each bracket 76 and are positioned to correspond with the positioning of the magnets of the outer ring as well as being oriented so that polarity of each of the magnets provides for attractive forces on the compensation member 56.

[0031] The operation of a lens finishing apparatus incorporating compensation member 56 is described with reference to FIG. 9. An operator of a lens finishing apparatus incorporating the carriage (shown at 72 with reference to FIG. 8) fits the compensation material over the inner ring and secures the compensation material thereto by tightening the outer ring. In a manner similar to that described with reference to FIG. 1, compensation member 56 is removably mounted to it respective compensation plate on track portion 14. Drive motor 16 is then actuated and causes track portion 14 to extend into the lens finishing apparatus, where the compensation plate having compensation member 56 positioned thereon is disposed between lap 20 and the carriage. To transfer compensation member 56 to the carriage, the carriage is brought into proximity with compensation member 56 such that magnets 70 attract the magnets of the carriage, thereby causing compensation member 56 to magnetically adhere to the carriage and thereby effecting the transfer of compensation member 56 from track portion 14 to the carriage. Upon completion of the transfer of compensation member 56 to the carriage, the compensation plate is removed from the lens finishing apparatus by retracting track portion 14 from the lens finishing apparatus.

[0032] To remove compensation member 56 from the carriage, track portion 14 is extended so as to be disposed proximate the carriage and lap 20. The carriage having compensation member 56 magnetically adhered thereto is lowered such that the holes disposed in the compensation plate receive the alignment pins depending from compensation member 56. Holes 73 may include beveled edges 74 to reduce precision necessary to facilitate engagement of pins 71 with holes 73. Track portion 14 is then retracted from the lens finishing apparatus, thereby slidingly breaking the magnetic attraction between magnets 70 and the magnets disposed in the carriage.

[0033] In the lens finishing operation, when either of the above mentioned embodiments are employed, the carriage extends in the direction of the lap such that one side of the compensation member contacts the surface of the lap and an opposing side of the compensation member is contacted by the lens blank. The lap is then deformed under an application of heat. The compensation member, which substantially matches the thickness of fining and polishing pads positioned between the lap and the lens blank, provides a compensation measure that enables the lap to be more accurately deformed to match the contour and curvature of the lens blank when a fining and polishing pad is disposed between the lens blank and the lap. Accuracy in the deformation of the lap enables the lens blank to be more accurately finished to the desired prescription.

[0034] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration only, and such illustrations and embodiments as have been disclosed herein are not to be construed as limiting to the claims. 

1. An apparatus for eliminating the differences in the curvatures of a facing lens blank and an abrasive pad mounted on a formable lap, comprising: a compensation member removably disposed on a compensation plate.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said compensation member is positionable between said lens blank and said formable lap.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said compensation member is removable from said compensation plate by a carriage supporting said lens blank.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said compensation member comprises: a piece of material; and a plurality of rings disposed at the edges of said piece of material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said rings of said compensation member are engagable by a corresponding number of members disposed on said compensation plate to retain said compensation member on said compensation plate.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a carriage includes a plurality of pickups depending therefrom, each of said pickups being configured and positioned to engage and receive each of said rings in successive motions.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said compensation member comprises: an inner ring; a piece of material draped over said inner ring such that edges of said piece of material extend at least over the edges of said inner ring; and an outer ring disposed over said edges of said piece of material and around said inner ring to frictionally retain said piece of material between said inner ring and said outer ring.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said outer ring has disposed thereon at least one magnet.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one magnet on said outer ring is oriented and positioned to be magnetically engaged by a magnet on a carriage for moving said compensation member to a selected location.
 10. An apparatus for delivering a compensation member to a lens finishing device, comprising: a drivable track portion; and a compensation plate disposed on said drivable track portion, said compensation plate having said compensation member removably disposed thereon.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said drivable track portion is extendable relative to said lens finishing device so as to position said compensation plate proximate a carriage and a formable lap of said lens finishing device.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said carriage of said lens finishing device is configured to receive said compensation plate thereon.
 13. An apparatus for performing work operations on a surface of a lens, comprising: a frame; a carriage configured, positioned, and dimensioned to support a lens blank; at least one strut positioned between said frame and said carriage, said at least one strut being in communication with said carriage and said frame; a driver operably connected to said at least one strut for causing movement of said at least one strut relative to said frame; and a compensation device positioned proximate said apparatus and being in mechanical communication with said carriage.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said compensation device includes a compensation member, said compensation member being configured to substantially eliminate the differences in the curvatures of said lens blank and an abrasive member mounted on a formable lap.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said compensation device comprises: a drive motor; a track portion drivable by said drive motor; a compensation plate disposed on said track portion; and a compensation member removably disposed on said compensation plate.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said compensation member is configured to be receivable by said carriage.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said compensation member is configured to be received between a lens blank disposed on said carriage and a formable lap of said apparatus.
 18. A method for eliminating the differences in the curvatures of a facing lens blank and an abrasive pad mounted on a formable lap, comprising: inserting a compensation material onto a formable lap; softening said formable lap; placing said lens blank over said compensation material to cause said formable lap to conform to a shape of a combination of said lens blank and said compensation material; allowing said formable lap to cure; removing said lens blank; and removing said compensation material.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said softening of said formable lap is attained by heating said formable lap.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein said allowing said formable lap to cure is attained by cooling said formable lap.
 21. A compensation device for a formable lap comprising: a compensation member including a compensation material having a thickness substantially equal to an abrasive pad to be mounted to said lap; a compensation plate selectively supporting said member; and a track portion configured to selectively move said compensation plate and member to a selected position.
 22. A compensation device for a formal lap as claimed in claim 21 wherein said compensation member includes a hoop.
 23. A compensation device for a formal lap as claimed in claim 22 wherein said hoop is magnetically transferable to a separate structure.
 24. A compensation device for a formal lap as claimed in claim 23 wherein said hoop includes at least one magnet having poles oriented to facilitate said transfer.
 25. A compensation device for a formal lap as claimed in claim 23 wherein said hoop includes three magnets. 